ELONIO
Log inSign up

Es la víspera y estamos muy emocionados porque el año está por terminar.

Es la víspera y estamos muy emocionados porque el año está por terminar.
It is the eve and we are very excited because the year is about to end.
From Lesson 274:Actions about to happen (estar por)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Es la víspera y estamos muy emocionados porque el año está por terminar.

How does está por terminar differ from va a terminar?
The phrase estar por + infinitive focuses on an action that is pending or about to happen right now. While va a terminar just means the year is going to end (which could technically be months away), está por terminar means it is about to end very soon.
Could I use está a punto de terminar instead?
Yes, absolutely! Estar a punto de + infinitive is another very common way to say something is about to happen in Spanish. In this sentence, está a punto de terminar and está por terminar mean exactly the same thing.
Why do we use Es for the eve but estamos for our excitement?
You use the verb ser (Es) for time expressions and identifying days or events, like Es la víspera or Es lunes. You use the verb estar (estamos) for passing states, feelings, or emotions, which is why we say estamos muy emocionados to mean we are excited.
What exactly does la víspera mean here? Is it always New Year's Eve?
La víspera simply means the eve or the day before an event. While in this context it clearly implies New Year's Eve (la víspera de Año Nuevo), you can use it for the day before any important event, like a test or a trip.

Learn Es la víspera y estamos muy emocionados porque el año está por terminar and more in Spanish

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Spanish →